No Turning Back – But What Does That Really Mean?

I typed “no turning back” into the YouTube search bar, expecting… well, I didn’t even know what I expected. But what I found was interesting: the first ten videos were all dance challenges, full of rhythm and energy. Scroll a little further down and suddenly the tone shifts — sermons, debates, and critiques asking whether all this dancing and excitement is "right" or "wrong."

Let me make this clear: I’m not here to take sides, I’m not claiming insight, “deeper revelation,” or a prophetic voice. What I do know is this — in the middle of the beats and all, the lyrics keep echoing: “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.” And that line demands reflection.

Jesus once said to His disciples:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
— Matthew 16:24–26

“Deny yourself” — two words, but what do they mean? Others have unpacked this deeply, but let me just offer a simple thought that might spark your own journey of reflection.

The body is naturally drawn to what it finds pleasurable — whether or not it’s destructive. So denying yourself isn't just about avoiding the obviously bad stuff. It’s also about recognizing when something permissible isn’t beneficial — for you.

Just like the Recabites in Jeremiah 35:2 or the Nazirites in Numbers 6:1-21, you might be personally convicted to avoid certain practices — not out of legalism, but because you know they pull you away from God. And let me be clear: those convictions should be based on truth, not just fleeting emotions. (We’ll talk more about that in a future post.)

It really can be that simple: deny yourself the things that distance you from your Maker.

I say this with a heavy heart, because some have used this truth to justify broken relationships and unkind actions. But let’s stay on track.

Following Jesus won’t always come with sparkles, applause, and shiny rewards. Contrary to popular messaging, it’s not about getting more of what the flesh craves. In fact, it often means turning your back on those very things.

Think about it logically:

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
That question isn’t for those being promised more — it’s for those being warned that “more” might cost them everything.

So now that we’ve seen the dancing, the passion, the movement — what’s next?

Will it change how we live at school, at work, in the marketplace?
Will we begin to value people more than status or possessions?
Will we see quiet generosity — giving without cameras or clout?
Will churches ensure widows and vulnerable members are cared for, even if we never know who made the sacrifice?

Because if all this excitement doesn’t lead us to seek the grace to walk as Jesus walked… then what was it for?

There’s no revival. Just another coat of white paint on a tomb.

Following Jesus is hard.
When the music fades, when the crowd moves on — that’s when the real work begins.
That’s where the road gets narrow.
That’s when many quietly walk away.

But if you’ve really decided to follow Jesus…
No turning back.